Translation. Philadelphia, January 28th, 1782. Sir, The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of France to the United States, has the honor of informing Congress that a great part of the loan of ten millions of livres tournois, opened in Holland on account of the United States, was taken up in October last, and that the interest on it has been fixed at 4 per centum. It is now proper that Congress should be pleased to send to Mr Franklin, the instructions and the authority necessary for performing the acts required to bind the United States, in their engagements with his Majesty on account of this loan, as well as of the interest and expenses which it has occasioned. The undersigned has informed the Superintendent of the Finances, that after deducting the money advanced by his Majesty for this loan, there would remain about four millions of livres, at the disposal of the United States when the loan is entirely taken up. LUZERNE. * * * * * THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Philadelphia, January 29th, 1782. Sir, The Minister of France informed me, that he was desirous of making some communications from letters received by the Sibyl. Ten o'clock this day was appointed to receive them. He accordingly came, and read to me passages of a letter of Count de Vergennes to him, dated October 17th, 1781, which contained in substance, That France wished (as was evident, from her going into the war on our account) to obtain every advantage for us. That powers at war must often be governed by circumstances. That if events would enable her to command them, we might depend on everything she could obtain. That her political system depended not only on America, but on the other powers at war. That if France should continue hostilities merely on account of America, after reasonable terms were offered, it was impossible to say what the event might be. That his Majesty was, however, at all events, determined to adhere to the true principles of the alliance, and would farther endeavor to obtain for us whatever we demanded, as far as events would justify.